Cal Bears' offensive line gets scrimmage test on Wednesday

BERKELEY -- Cal's offensive line, a 1,500-pound work in progress, gets a major road test Wednesday when the Golden Bears hold their first full scrimmage of summer camp.

"Anytime you scrimmage it's big for the offensive line," Cal coach Jeff Tedford said after Tuesday's workout. "They can get after people ... use all their tools."

On an offense with returning starters at quarterback, running back and wide receiver, the line is the primary variable. And those big guys know it.

"We want to make the most of every play so we can let our playmakers make plays, give them a clean pocket or open up holes for the running back," senior tackle Matt Summers-Gavin said. "It's just a matter of working it over and over and over and keep trying for perfection, and hopefully catch greatness."

Four starters seem fairly set: Summers-Gavin at right tackle, Brian Schwenke at center, Jordan Rigsbee at left guard, his brother Tyler Rigsbee at left tackle. Right guard remains in flux, although Chris Adcock ran with the first unit on Tuesday. Of that group, only Summers-Gavin started at the same position a year ago.

The chemistry of the new group was disrupted when projected starting guard Dominic Galas tore a pectoral muscle late last month. He will be out until at least midseason after surgery.

Schwenke, moved from guard to center in the spring, has embraced the new position.

"I'd never snapped before in my life -- at first I was messing up snaps in practice," Schwenke said. "I feel like I'm a center now. It's awesome."

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Tedford likes what he's seen from Schwenke. "He's a force inside," the coach said.

Quarterback Zach Maynard is optimistic the line will be ready to make things happen for the offense.

"That's the whole key to everything," Maynard said. "Without the offensive line, nothing's going to work at all."

Schwenke understands the responsibility his group shoulders.

"We set the tempo. If we're not going, the whole team is going to be slow," he said. "We're going to be ready."

Tight ends Richard Rodgers (shoulder) and Spencer Hagen (hand) practiced Tuesday, although Rodgers likely will be held out of the scrimmage.

Rodgers, whom Tedford has called as talented as any tight end in the nation, landed hard on his left shoulder during practice Thursday and was wearing a harness under his jersey.

Defensive linemen Deandre Coleman (foot) and Mustafa Jalil (knee) sat out practice. Tedford expects both to be available for the scrimmage. But the Bears are thin enough at the position that linebacker Antoine Davis has been moved to defensive end.

Tedford said he expects to learn a lot about his wide receivers, especially the five freshmen, in Wednesday's scrimmage.

A day earlier he identified Bryce Treggs and Chris Harper as the first-year wideouts who have likely inserted themselves into the rotation, but he said personnel decisions will begin to be made after the scrimmage.

"We can't give reps to 14 receivers," Tedford said.

The Bears expect to practice in renovated Memorial Stadium for the first time on Thursday morning.

Tedford said the team peeked into the stadium after practice Monday and that he heard a lot of "wow" from the players.